Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-01
CITY AND DISTRICT.
THE KNIGHTS TO BUILD.
The Hall They Propose 60 Erect I'm
This City.
PROVISIONS TO MADE FOR A LIBRARY, READING
ROOM, LODGING ROOMS, ETC.


The Knights of Labor are making good progress
IN their movement towards the erection OF a lodge
building In this city. They have been successful
thus far In their plans for raising funds, and they
expert TO experience no difr1culty in getting the
requisite amount. Their greatest difficulty has
been 20 get a site suitable for the building at a
reasonable price. They want 10 build somewhere
between Az and I2th streets and Pennsy lvania
avenue and G. several sites have been offered
but the prices asked have Invariably been too high
They at one time thought OF the old Lincoln hall
site, but the owners hold it beyond their reach.
AT present there three or four sites under con-
siderstion, and probably one OF them will be
selected. When the site Is once secured there
WILL they think, be no trouble about the compile
ton OF the building. IL will be erected on the
joint Stock company plan, each assembly taking
stock and there will be no debts contracted In the
work.
EvmYrHIxa WILL BE PAID FOR AS THE WORK GOES on,
and when the building is finished il VIII be free
OF all encumbrances. II is likely that much OF
their material will be donated. One brickmaker
has offered sixty thousand brick, and another has
promised 10 give "a many "a any other man In the
city Will give. This Will probably result In their
not having To purchase any OF the brick The first
idea was To erect building 10 cost about $50 OOO
but II Il evident now that the cost Will exceed
that, as the price OF the site must be high. The
plans for the building have not yet been finally
decided upon, as the style depends somewhat
on the site chosen. The drawings will be made by
Washington architect, and some Of the general
details are settled
THE GENERAL PLAN.
The idea is TO have a general sitting and reading
room library and three rooms stores on the first
roor. the second floor TO be devoted to concert
hall with floor that may be changed for dancing.
The lodges, foul In number, were 10 be located on
the third and fourth floors.
Mr.. Denham who Is familiar with the general
scheme SAYS that architects tell him that fhere is
not hall In Washington suitable Tor both con-
certs and dancing Their idea Is TO make this per-
rs.rfN hal nnAh l- Vnfl n ..tnCr
well But this part Of the plan may be changed
Somebody whom they refuse To name at present
has made them good Ofer for the entire first and
second floors, except the reading room and
library, the three stores the FIRST floor TO be
thrown into one. and the hall above 10 be oeeu-
they viii, OF course. have 10 dispense with the
hall
THERE ARE OVER SIXTY ASSEMBLIES IN THE CITY
In all about le 600 knights, and none OF them have
good quarters TO meet In. The third and fourth
floors Of this building viii be designed to give
them all the room they need and the central local
1ty OF the building viii make IL convenient TO all.
IL is designed 70 have the building plain and
heavy In exterior style, With considerable archi
tectural beauty within. The great out lay Will be
to make The interior as near perfect as may be;
cover ground space Of 80 by l20.
FREE FOR ALL WORKERS.
The Knights do not propose To Dc selfish about
the building. The idea OF tire general sitttag room
on the first floor is TO have place where any
workman, whether Knight or not, so he be sober,
may sit and read, when he is out OF employment.
Frequently wOrkmen come TO the city out OF
money and out OF work; they are called trampS
and have TO sleep In the station houses. When
they start cut in search OF work after spending
the night in cell. appearances are against them.
II is proposed 10 allow these 20 go to this room
and wash and dress so as 10 be preSentapie and
TO have them sit there and read when they are
not out looking for work. Moreover, il il proposed
10 have this place where they would De apt TO
ind work.
As TO THE LIBRARY,
II Is not quite cert ain how that Will be established
II Is desired TO make il not exclusively Tor the use
OF the knights, bus public library, open every
body az all times, nights, sundays and every day.
II might BE- Mr.. Denham suggested that the
rooms in this building would be used for the pub
lie library, there IS now movement 10 establish
outside the order OF the knights. The rooms
would be freely given for that purpose and thereon
open TO everybody.